Ampeg SVT1000 seems underpowered

Axtman · #1 08-24-2010, 12:07 PM

I have an Ampeg SVT1000 head that seems rather under rated for the power that it is supposed to deliver. It is supposedly 840 watts at 8 ohms and 1350 watts into 4 ohms.

Does anyone have this amp and can tell me about their experience. Thanks!

Axtman · #2 08-24-2010, 12:07 PM

BTW, I used to have an SVT350 head and it too seemed underpowered.

chokeslam512 · #3 08-24-2010, 12:17 PM

How are you running it to what cabinet configuration? EQ Settings? Active bass? There is so much more to this equation.

Axtman · #4 08-24-2010, 12:48 PM

8 ohm B410HE Ampeg cabinet
flat EQ
Active Lakland 55-01 bass

mazdah · #5 08-24-2010, 12:53 PM

The problem is for sure in your cabinet.
It's only 200W, low efficiency and not much lows might be the problem.
With SVT 350 pumping only 175W I now understand why you had problems.
The only thing you can do with this cab and SVT 1000 is ... to blow the speakers.

If you like the sound a lot I think you should buy another B410HE or B115E. More speakers - more volume, even with less power.
Or you can buy one good, loud 4x10 cab, the one that can push a lot of power (SWR, Eden) or something with more low end (Ampeg's HLF cabs, or ProNeo series)

JMac4strngr · #6 08-24-2010, 12:59 PM

I have had both of the amps You mention and, yes they do seem overrated. I would say that more speakers would definitly give you more volume. The efficiency of speaker enclosure dictates the volume more than the watts that the head is putting out.

Jerrold Tiers · #7 08-24-2010, 09:46 PM

As with any Ampeg SS unit..........

Turn the input gain UP, you want the red light to flash.

Maybe turn OFF the power amp limiter..... it squashes peaks.

80'sRocker · #8 08-24-2010, 09:49 PM

I have an Ampeg SVT 4 Pro with the same issue - no balls. I'm running through (2) Mesa Road Ready 8 ohm cabs.

JimmyM · #9 08-24-2010, 11:13 PM

4 pro with no balls? poppycock! the gain must be cranked pretty hard on ampeg amps. when i had a 3 pro (and when supplied any other ampegs on gigs), i would ignore the light and use my ears and crank that gain up to the point of audible distortion, then back off it slightly from there. yeah, it'll be in the 3:00 range...so what? knobs don't have to be at 12:00 all the time.

of course i only ignored the light because i always thought it was a light to indicate when the amp was clipping, and jerrold set me straight on that. it's not a light to show clipping. it should be pretty well lit up at all times when signal goes through it. and that's why so many people think they're underpowered when they're not, and that's why some think they have no balls when in fact they have very big balls.

bongomania · #10 08-24-2010, 11:17 PM

Clinically it's known as "Ampeg Testicular Dysmorphia".

calebbarton · #11 08-24-2010, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

4 pro with no balls? poppycock! the gain must be cranked pretty hard on ampeg amps. when i had a 3 pro (and when supplied any other ampegs on gigs), i would ignore the light and use my ears and crank that gain up to the point of audible distortion, then back off it slightly from there. yeah, it'll be in the 3:00 range...so what? knobs don't have to be at 12:00 all the time.

of course i only ignored the light because i always thought it was a light to indicate when the amp was clipping, and jerrold set me straight on that. it's not a light to show clipping. it should be pretty well lit up at all times when signal goes through it. and that's why so many people think they're underpowered when they're not, and that's why some think they have no balls when in fact they have very big balls.

Yeah I have to second this. I experienced the flashy light thingy when I had the SVT 5pro (which i hate by the way). I didnt get any balls unless the gain was cranked beyond 12:00.

JimmyM · #12 08-24-2010, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Clinically it's known as "Ampeg Testicular Dysmorphia".

i thought that was when your sack was covered in blue checker squares.

Von Felgenhauer · #13 01-04-2011, 07:26 PM

Problem with english?

Floyd Eye · #14 01-04-2011, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Felgenhauer

Problem with english?

Kinda dickish wasn't it?

prd004 · #15 01-04-2011, 07:46 PM

On virtually all Ampeg models you MUST crank the gain until the peak light flickers on and off when you play.

This is according to the owners manual! It's a little misleading, we naturally assume that when the red peak light comes on you have too hot of a signal, but in the case of Ampeg that's not the deal, if your light isn't comming on you are not passing a hot enough signal to the preamp.

That being said, sounds like you could use better speakers! An amp is only as good as the speakers you connect them too